26 Things

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Altered Perception

Media Influence

Media Influence

It is no secret that the media has a whole arsenal of tools to use in swaying its viewer one way or another. Be it specific words, music, or graphics, there is almost always an alternative purpose. They often use words that have strong meanings and connotations in order to grab your attention or make you feel a certain way about the story. For example, rather than simply saying, “a crime” they may say something like, “a heinous crime.” Music is often used as well. Dramatic music put over a story may conjure up emotions in the viewer that makes it easier for the network to make their point. Finally, graphics might be used to make the network appear to be more patriotic (or whatever other value they wish to display). This might make some people want to watch this network instead of their competitor because they feel this one has better values.

Race in Media

African Americans in Television Shows

It seems that the portrayal of black characters on television shows has improved significantly in the last few years. When just years ago black actors were usually assigned to roles in which they played bad stereotypes, the fact that they are now given roles that could just as easily be given to a white actor is a pretty good sign. Hopefully this is a representation of our society’s general views on the subject.
Gone are the years of black actors exclusively playing characters like those on “Sanford and Son,” “Amos ‘n’ Andy” or “Good Times.” Red Fox’s role on “Sanford and Son” as an uneducated junk dealer in the slums was nothing short of racist. As were the service workers on “Amos ‘n’ Andy.” And the use of an absentee father on “Good Times” was nothing more than a nasty stereotype.
More recently we have seen black actors in more realistic and much less negative roles. The popular series “24” gave the role of president to a black man, something we quite possibly may see very soon in the real world. Other shows are giving roles to black actors that could just as easily be played by white actors. This is much more like reality, where black and white people often share similar roles and problems. The character “Michael” on the show “Lost” is a father who just went through and ugly divorce and is trying to win back the love of his only son – a role that could have just as easily been a white man.
Though the treatment of African Americans is not always what it should be in every area, the change in their portrayal on television is something to give us hope. I hope to see a time when everyone has finally realized that we are all people of the same species, sharing a planet and that skin color means nothing. Let’s hope the television giving us a sign of things to come.

Mock Art Proposal

Mock Art Proposal

What: A complex network of model trains that runs all throughout the mall. The tracks and trains will be painted all white and will be placed on wooden boards that are painted completely black. The trains will carry candy that people are welcome to take.

Where: Lakeside Mall

How: I will, along with a group of friends for help, work on the installation when the mall is closed. The trains and boards will already be painted, but it will all need to be assembled and put into place.

News Graphic

Stereotype

Spa(r)(c)e time

If I finish something early I’ll either work on my senior project or some independant project in photoshop.